New CPC roadmap sets out optimization of Party leadership structure

The new roadmap of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to improve leadership at various levels introduces measures to break down age barriers and welcome more people from diverse backgrounds.

"Party and government leadership at various levels are 'the nervous centralis' of a place or a unit and 'the headquarters' for the country's Organization Department in an explanation of the roadmap on Thursday.

According to the new roadmap, a five-year guideline on improving Party leadership before 2018 that was made public Wednesday, more efforts will be made to ensure the right people assume key positions.

Candidates who are proficient in Party affairs as well as economic and social development should be selected to head the leadership team, and candidates should have relevant work experience in multiple positions, the explanatory statement went on.

Efforts should be made to enrich the leadership with people that have expertise in modern industry, agriculture, service industry, "new-type urbanization", conservation culture or informationalization.

"Inclusion into the leadership team should not be simply set by candidates' ages," it said.

The guideline called for special attention to the training and selection of officials from state-owned enterprises, colleges and research institutes.

Women, ethnic minority groups and non-CPC members should also be properly represented, however, the standard should not be lowered, according to the statement.

"These measures aim to build a reasonable leadership structure by ensuring member's ages, experience, expertise and personality complement one another, thus, improving the overall function of the team," said the statement.